Most breweries have at least one piece of equipment that’s just a bit persnickity. Here at Boulevard we have fermenter number seven, the black sheep of our cellar family. Ironically, when our brewers were experimenting with variations on a traditional Belgian-style farmhouse ale, the perfect combination of elements came together in that very vessel. You could call it fate, but they called it Tank 7, and so it is. Beginning with a big surge of fruity aromatics and grapefruit-hoppy notes, the flavor of this complex, straw-colored ale tapers off to a peppery, dry finish.

Reviews by MaximalC:

Pours a murky golden color with an admirable, rocky white head that devolves into sporadic chunks of lacing as the beer recedes. Aroma smells richly of pepper, hops, yeast, and some light fruit. This combination actually works much more pleasantly together than one might expect. The pepper that was so prominent in the nose is even more so in the taste--almost distractingly so. There are some spices I can tolerate in abundance, but pepper is not one of them. The bottle touts tropical fruit as a main component of the flavor profile, and much to my surprise, there is an evident mango aspect to the taste. The mango is more noticeable initially, before it starts to get drowned out by the pepper and bitterness, but it's definitely there. There's also some of the funkiness typical of the style, and the 8% ABV is well concealed. The carbonation is nice and crisp, just how I like it, but that's not enough to redeem this beer overall. There's just too much pepper going on to give the rest of the elements a fair shake, though I do respect Boulevard for going big on flavor here, even if it's not quite too my liking. (1,121 characters)

More User Reviews:

A: Pours a hazy medium yellow in color with moderate to significant amounts of visible carbonation along with some lemon yellow highlights. The beer has a four finger tall fluffy foamy off-white head that slowly reduces to a dense finger tall cap in the center with a half finger thick layer covering the remainder of the surface of the beer. Significant amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Moderate to strong aromas of spicy (peppery) yeast along with moderate notes of lemon citrus and some biscuit + pale malts. Light to moderate amounts of herbal and earthy hops as well.

T: Upfront there is a moderate to strong flavor of biscuit and pale malts that gives a slightly hay-like taste with light to moderate notes of lemon citrus. There are moderate flavors of spicy/peppery yeast along with some herbal + earthy hops which impart just a touch of bitterness.

M: Just shy of medium bodied with moderate amounts of carbonation. Crisp with light to moderate amounts of dryness in the finish.

O: This is a very nice Saison and one that I would gladly drink over and over again. Wonderful flavors and very easy to drink + refreshing - the alcohol is well hidden. One of the best examples of the American take on a traditional saison. (1,233 characters)

Tank 7 is definately a modern take on a traditional Belgian Farmhouse. Because of aggressive phenolic character and high hopping rates, this beer shows a lot of layering.

Tank 7 pours with a medium golden hue and haziness that makes it look like a Witbier. A froathy and airy white head has great retention and lacing. A very solid appearance.

Mouthwatering aromas of citrus, vinous, American hops, and a peppery twang. The malt character gives a slight sweet scent with low grain character.

True pilsner malts give a soft confectionate sweetness and a pleasant grain flavor. The malts only act as a springboard for the more powerfull flavors of sharp, bitter, and citrus hops by contributing flavors of lemon, orange, grapefruit, and pineapple. Esters exacerbate the fruity hops with apples, under-rippened berries, lemons, and white grapes. Not stopping there, the yeast gives a lot of phenolic (almost plastic or medicinal) at times and perhaps a light soapy note. All these flavors layer upon themselves allowing for new flavors to be explored in every sip.

Creamy and soft up front but the beers bitterness, light astringency, and acidity builds and breaks down the beer's texture, allowing for a palate cleansing and refreshing finish. A minty note rises in the finish and aftertaste, giving a tea-like taste.

Tank 7 is a remarkable beer that belongs with the experimental Belgian IPA's. And, it's certainly better than most.

Thoroughly enjoyed from a growler in a snifter. This fine saison pours a luminous yellow golden color with a firm fluffy white head that later dissipates to a fine pool of foam and excellent lacing. Nose of sweet pale malts, earthy yeasty goodness, white pepper, spicy hops, and notes of citrus fruits. Flavors are complex. Sweet light malts collide with grapefruit and citrus flavors from the hops with a peppery flavor that persists to the end being rounded out by a light grain character. Crisp and lightly dry finish is aided by excellent carbonation making for a great mouth feel.

A: The beer is slightly hazy golden yellow in color. It poured with a quarter finger high white head that died down but consistently left a short head covering the surface.S: Light to moderate aromas of citrus, grapefruit and yeast are present in the nose.T: The taste follows the smell and has flavors of lemony citrus along with slight hints of peppery spices towards the finish.M: It feels light- to medium-bodied on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation.O: This beer is quite citrusy for a saison and goes down very easily. It is a very nice beer for the summer months.

Best by 8/27/15. 12oz bottle poured into a tulip. Pours a beautiful shiny golden; fluffy eggshell white head that sticks around leaving great retention and sticky lacing. Bubbles are constantly swimming to the top. Very nice aromas. I'm picking up some grapefruit and lemon. There's a subtle hop aroma. Yeast notes are there. Some spices. The aromas have a nice sweetness going on. Flavors are sharp and crisp. Very vibrant. More citrus notes. Some banana. Clove and coriander is in the mix. Subtle black pepper notes. Some grass and subtle pine notes. Floral notes too. Finishes clean dry with a subtle hop bite. Mouthfeel is great. It's full-bodied with active carbonation. Very creamy and fluffy. Very smooth. Alcohol goes unnoticed. Fun to drink.

This is a great brew. Boulevard really seems to know what they're doing with these styles. Well executed. Recommended. (870 characters)

Appearance: Arrives with a clear golden colored liquid covered by an inch or so of foam; although the head wasn't impressive for the style, the lacing action was decent

Smell: A range of interesting aromatics - grassy and lemony from the hops, biscuity from the malt and peppery from the yeast

Taste: The malt stays in the background, with a subtle hint of sweetness at the outset; quickly, the peppery, herbal flavors arrive to dominate the profile, though by mid-palate, the beer takes on a lemony/grassy character; after the swallow, the malts re-emerge to provide a bit of peach character but the finish is dominated by the lemony/peppery elements

Mouthfeel: Light to medium body with crisp carbonation

Overall: A wonderful blend of flavor elements combine to make this an excellent example of the style; a bit hoppier than most Belgians but still a cut above most of the domestic examples of the style I have tasted (924 characters)

A: 4 finger head, funny, the carbonation on the bottom is a perfect circle floating to the top. The head goes down quickly. Nice mellow golden color.

S: Citrus aroma, slightly mettallic, grapefruit.

T: Bitter, bitter, bitter! Hoppy with some grapefruit and other citrus. The bitter taste stays with you as you drink it. Gets more bitter as you drink on.

M: great carbonation, good feel.

O: I was so disappointed in this beer. I was really bitter and just kept getting more and more bitter as I drank it. The grapefruit is nice and refreshing, but the hoppy, bitterness overwhelms any other tones within the beer. I will not be buying this beer again. (654 characters)

Poured into a small tulip glass an orange tinged dull light golden with a large fluffy,sticky white head that left two full rings of lace behind as it settled verly slowly into a frothy mass.Big lemony citrus notes in the nose along with bready malt and light phenolic spice.Crisp and quite dry on the palate with citric undertones to go along with light phenols.A very good American version of the style,alot of the time I stay away from the style because of the dreaded funk,this is funk subdued.Nice job here. (512 characters)

a: This beer pours a pale gold with excellent clarity. The long lasting white head settles to about a half a finger of compact bubbles leaving lacing on the glass.

s: Get your nose to the glass as soon as you pour, the aroma goes from almost a rock solid American IPA then transition in some of those saison fruit and spice aromas. That pretty well some up what I get here with citrus and piney American hops aromas with spicy, peppery and orange Belgian yeast aromas. The dominating hops and yeast aromas are well balance. There is also a soft alcohol aroma.

t: The moderately-high hops bitterness and spice dominate the flavor with moderate fruit flavors of orange and American hops. The hops are citrusy and piney while the spice is mostly pepper. There is a touch of that bubblegum brett flavor.

m: This is light and fluffy on the palate with a moderately-light body and high carbonation.

o: An awesome American interpretation of the Saison style. A World class beer! (978 characters)

FLAVOR- Just a tiny pop of pils malt sweetness gets scrubbed off the palate by carbonation and spicy yeast with a light mango and banana esters. Some citrusy hop mid palate and a dry, peppery finish. Totally lovely. Moderate bitterness aids the peppery finish. Alcohol pushes a floral presance into the sinuses.

MOUTHFEEL- appropriately light bodied and singing with carbonation, yet still has a rich, velvety mouthfeel, lightly astringent in the finish. Alcohol is apparent.

OVERALL- I drink this all the time despite the high ABV. Responsible for many nights that went too far. Definatly the best stateside saison I've ever had. Pretty-much textbook except for the beastly ABV. (913 characters)